The club's first game back in the top flight for 51 years and, in truth, they did well to register nil.

In the end it all boiled down to finishing.

West Ham were clinical, Cardiff anything but.

But for an easy tip-over from a looping header, Jussi Jaaskelainen had no save to make in the West Ham goal.

In 90 minutes of neat, often pleasing football, the Welsh side failed
to fire one shot on target, although substitute Nicky Maynard really
should have scored late on.

Last season newly promoted West Ham finished a creditable 10th.

They
look good to emulate this feat in May. Goal-shy Cardiff, on the
evidence of their first Premier League outing, will settle for 17th
place and survival.

'We
did a great job,' said Allardyce. 'We won comfortably, scored two good
goals, kept a clean sheet and defended superbly.' Mackay was upbeat.

'We had plenty of possession but lacked penetration,' he admitted. 'I
don't think it's a lesson learned. We knew we had to be clinical in this
league but we weren't. We've got to make our stadium a fortress.'

Pass and move: West Ham's second goal, scored by Kevin Nolan, came after a team move comprising of 16 passes as our new Match Zone graphic (above) shows - home team (West Ham) shown in white circles

Crowded: In a bustling penalty area, Cole swivels and puts the ball into the back of the net

Man in the middle: Modibo Maiga holds off two Cardiff players as he looks for an opening

Super fan: Cardiff owner Vincent Tan was soaking up the surroundings in his first Premier League outing

That is easier said than done
with Manchester City coming to the Welsh capital next weekend. Cardiff's
new striker Andreas Cornelius, signed from FC Copenhagen for
£7.5million, is expected to have shaken off an injury. He will be
needed.

Allardyce named new signings Stewart Downing and Razvan Rat on the bench but it made little difference.

After
12 minutes West Ham had the lead when Joe Cole collected from a Matt
Jarvis low cross, swivelled and buried his right-foot drive.

Playmaker: Cole drives forward with the ball in a bid to spark an attack for the Hammers

Welcome to the big time: Cardiff boss Malky Mackay gives some instruction from the touchline

Cole could have ended the first half with a hat-trick - heading wide from a Jarvis cross and chipping meekly at David Marshall.

Tough tackler: Bo-Kyung Kim (right) is held off by West Ham's Mohamen Diame (left)

Going swimmingly? Mackay watches while the Hammers fans blow bubbles

Downing replaced Jarvis in the 71st minute and began a series of dashes and crosses.

'Stewart doesn't need to prove himself to anyone,' said Allardyce. 'He wasn't quite match fit, which is why he was on the bench, but he showed the fans what they'll see this season. He's glad to be here and he's a top quality player.'

Another new boy: Stewart Downing was brought on as a second-half substitute

Instructions: Sam Allardyce imparts some wisdom to James Collins (right) during a break in play